William Shakespeare /1564 – 1616 / is considered to be the greatest playwright of the English language. He was born on 23^rd April in Stratford upon Avon as the oldest son of John Shakespeare, a glove maker.

At the age of 18 he married 8 years older Anne Hathaway and they had three children – two daughters and a son, who died as a small boy (in 11 years).

In 1588 he came to London and joined a group of actors, called Chamberlaine’s Men in their own theatre “The Globe”. First he helped to adapt or re-write older plays, but later he started to write his own and was very successful. Audience included both Elizabeth I. and her husband James I. They were very found of Shakespeare.

After his son’s death he went back to Stratford and lived quiet life with his family in a new house. He died on the same day as he was born – according to a legend – after a wild birthday celebration with his friend.

He is buried at local Trinity Church, where one of the two authentic portraits – the bust, can be seen.

He wrote 37 plays and sonnets for the London stage.

Comedies: e. g. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer – Night’s Dream, etc.

History plays: Julius Caesar, Henry IV., and Richard III. and others

Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth.

Romance: The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest.

Tells story about the unhappy love and death of the only children of two powerful houses of Verona. These two houses hate each other and Romeo Montaque meets Juliet at the ball and falls in love with her although she is Capulet. Their love and marriage are secret and when by unfortunate coincidence Romeo kills Juliet’s cousin, Prince Verona sends him to the exile and Juliet is forced to marry a young nobleman Paris. Juliet takes magic drops after which she falls asleep for several hours and looks as if she were dead. Romeo, after learning about her death and not knowing about the trick, hurries to the Capulet’s churchyard and kills himself. Soon after the Juliet wakes up and when she sees Romeo dead, she kills herself too. After the death of their beloved children, both houses reconciliate.

It’s tragedy of loyalty and treason. King Lear banishes his youngest daughter Cordelia who, being asked how much she loves her father, doesn’t speak to him with insincere affection like her sisters Regan and Goneril, but says that she loves him according to her duty. King Lear is also later banished by his two daughters, between whom he has divided his kingdom. He is left in a cruel storm and loses his wits. Cordelia comes to help him, but she is imprisoned and hanged and King Lear dies of grief. The tragedy illustrates the complete chaos which prevails in a state not properly governed by a week ruler.